Zoltán Győri

Speciation of chromium from industrial wastes and incinerated sludges

Abstract In this study, the Cr(III) and Cr(VI) contents of seven international standards, wastes, incinerated wastes and ash samples were measured with a simply hyphenated system. The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) content was measured using an on-line method, which contained an acid-activated aluminium oxide filled microcolumn that was developed especially for the study and an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The sample introduction and the steps in on-line measurement were controlled by an autosampling program. For lower chromate concentrations, a similar, but off-line separation method was applied with an aluminium-oxide filled solid-phase extraction column and a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. Acid-activated aluminium oxide adsorbs the Cr(VI) in the pH 2–7 range, but does not adsorb the Cr(III). The adsorbed Cr(VI) can be eluted with strong acid. The changes in chromium forms were studied in the waste burning process as well. In our incineration studies, we obtained the following results: A portion of the chromium(III) content of wastes can be oxidised to chromium(VI) by the incineration process. It increases the potential risk of air and soil contamination of chromium(VI).

Relationship between TP53 tumour suppressor gene mutations and smoking-related bulky DNA adducts in a lung cancer study population from Hungary

Lung cancer rate in Hungary is one of the highest in the world among men and also very high among women, for reasons not clearly understood yet. The aim of the study was to explore characteristics of DNA damage and TP53 gene mutations in lung cancer from Hungary. Tissue samples from 104 lung resections for lung cancer patients, both men and women, operated on for non-small cell lung cancer, specifically, primary squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma were studied. Of the cases, 37% smoked up to the surgery, 24% stopped smoking within 1 year before the surgery, 26% stopped smoking more than a year before the surgery and 13% never smoked. TP53 mutations were detected by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis, automated capillary electrophoresis single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing. Bulky DNA adduct levels were determined by (32)P-post-labelling in non-tumorous lung tissue. In total, 45% (47/104) of the cases carried TP53 mutation. The prevalence of TP53 mutations was statistically significantly associated with duration of smoking, tumour histology and gender. Smokers had approximately twice as high bulky adduct level as the combined group of former- and never-smokers (10.9 +/- 6.5 versus 5.5 +/- 3.4 adducts/10(8) nucleotides). The common base change G --> T transversion (8/43; 19%) was detected exclusively in smokers. For the first time, we demonstrate that most carriers of G --> T transversions had also a high level of bulky DNA adducts in their non-tumourous lung tissue. Our study provides evidence for a high burden of molecular alterations occurring concurrently in the lung of lung cancer patients.

Effects of fertilizer application on the baking quality of winter wheat varieties in a long term experiment under continental climatic conditions in Hungary

By using the baking quality parameters from a long-term experiment the effect of fertilization (N+PK) on wet gluten contents and farinograph values were determined on chernozem soil under continental climatic conditions. In the average of years and varieties fertilization highly increased the wet gluten content (in the control treatment 27,6 %, in the N 300/150 +PK fertilizer treatment 35,97 %). Fertilizer application also had favourable effects on farinograph values. These effects, however, were rather moderate (in the control treatment 56,2, in N 300/150 +PK fertilizer treatment 61,4).We could increase the stability of the quality by using of appropriate fertilizer doses. The correlation between fertilization and wet gluten content was medium (0.343 xx –0,694 xx ) and between fertilization and farinograph values was weak (0.030–0.419 xx ).

Yttrium normalisation: a new tool for detection of chromium contamination in soil samples.

The measurement of chromium and yttrium concentration could give a chance to detect 5–10 times less chromium contamination in soil by using the yttrium normalisation method. The principle of the method is the following: elements such as chromium and yttrium exist naturally in the soil in a strongly bonded form. Therefore, in a noncontaminated area there should be a close correlation between the yttrium and chromium concentrations. If the measured Cr concentration in a sample is not on the Cr–Y trend line then the distance of plotted point from the line indicates the amount of anthropogenic chromium. Anthropogenic chromium can be detected only in the case when the contamination does not contain yttrium. This theory was tested in an agricultural–toxicological field experiment where Cr(VI) was added to the soil. Applying the yttrium normalisation method a much smaller anthropogenic effect was detected than by other evaluation methods.

Effects of Particle Size on the Quality of Winter Wheat Flour, with a Special Focus on Macro‐ and Microelement Concentration

Abstract In countries with suitable conditions for growing winter wheat, there are millions of tons of poor‐baking‐quality wheat harvested every year. In this investigation, representative samples of low‐quality‐wheat lots were analyzed. The baking quality properties, protein, ash, and macro‐ and microelement concentrations were determined for different particle‐size fractions of flour. Flour fractions of different particle sizes sieved from the same flour samples yielded significantly different analyses for protein, ash, and macro‐ and microelements. It was determined that the particle fraction of 125–63 µm had better baking parameters than the original flour sample, and it constituted 32.5% of the total mass of the original amount of flour. In addition, the mineral‐element concentration was also found to be much higher than that of the original flour, which means that besides its better baking quality, it also had a higher nutritional value. The single, unmixed utilization of the 125‐ to 63‐µm flour fraction would mean more economic production for the baking industry and a higher value end product for the consumer. Based on our findings, we also recommend that in the chapters on materials and methods of the articles dealing with different kinds of flour, the authors should indicate the particle sizes of the flour samples analyzed because these may result in more objective evaluations of the readings.

Soil Analyses in the Rothamsted Park Grass Experiment

Last century the Rothamsted Classical Experiments were of fundamental importance to the understanding of plant nutrition by inorganic and organic manure. This century, more than 150 years after, the unique continuity of the experiments, together with their veritable treasure trove of stored crop and soil samples and data, is allowing them to contribute to current research on many topics ranging from nitrate leaching to pesticide residues. We measured the heavy metal content of soil and hay samples from a control, a fertilized and a limed plot of Park Grass Experiment. Changes in the soil have been accelerated due to human activity, e.g. the development of agriculture, industry and transportation. We carried out measurements on a selection of old and new samples collected over the duration of the Park Grass experiment. Those we studied were taken from the unlimed control plot, the plot limed but not fertilized since 1903, and the unlimed plot exposed to the strongest acidifying effects: fertilization with ammonium sulfate. Regarding liming, from 1903 and every fourth year until 1964, lime was applied to the southern halves of most of the plots. From 1965 each half plot was further subdivided and only sub-plots ‘d’ remained unlimed. From 1965 sub-plots ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘c’ were limed to maintain pH 7, 6 and 5 respectively. The studied fertilized plot is given every spring 144 kg N/ha in the form of ammonium sulfate, in winter 35 kg P, 225 kg K, 15 kg Na, 10 kg Mg and 550 kg sodium silicate per ha. The soil well drained or moderately well drained flinty loams on clay or chalk. The samples afforded the possibility to examine the effect of atmospheric deposition, fertilizer and liming on the chemistry of surface soil and plants.

Macro- and microelement contents of blue and red kernel corns

The role of special corns in human diets is increasing as a result of their favourable nutritional values. Little is known about mineral contents of different red and blue corns, although they may help to inhibit deficiency diseases mainly in the developing countries. During this study, mineral contents (15 elements) of 3 red and 9 blue corn varieties were examined with ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Highest contents of macroelements were as follows: P (3859.5±562.1 mg kg −1 ), K (4325.0±469.5 mg kg −1 ) and Mg (1450.0±104.6 mg kg −1 ) in the variety Black Mexican, S (1555.0±128.6 mg kg −1 ) in Santo Domingo Blue. In case of microelements, iron, zinc and selenium were highlighted. Except one genotype, iron contents were above 30 mg kg −1 . Blaumais, Hopi Turquoise and Hopi Blue contained more than 40 mg kg −1 (41.0–46.3), which were above values published in the literature (10.0 mg kg −1 in average). For zinc, we measured 15.2–31.5 mg kg −1 . Selenium contents (0.1–0.2 mg kg −1 ) were also higher than in the literat...

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the nitrogen, sulphur and carbon contents of canola ( Brassica napus L. ) grown on a calcareous chernozem soil

Introduction Canola (Brassica napus L. subsp. napus), an important crop of the temperate region in the world, is characterized by a high N requirement. It is well known from previous studies that the N utilizing efficiency of canola is low (Hocking et al 1997) and that nitrogen fertilizer has a determinant effect on its seed yield (Nemeth and Karaman 1986, Nemeth 1987-1988 and1988, Kadar et al. 2001, Kadar 2002, Nemeth 2006). The yield quality, macroelement content and their ratios correlate with the amount of fertilizer (Lasztity 1991, Mathene 2001, Hill et al. 2003, Tanacs et al. 2005). In many parts of the world S deficiency is considered as a limiting factor of canola production and one of the determinant factors of yield quality, especially in fields characterized by intensive crop production and on soils having low humus and clay contents (Schnug and Haneklaus 1998, Mc Grath and Zhao 1997, Fismes et al. 2000). The total sulphur requirement varies in different crop species, development stages and plant parts (e.g. sulphur content of Brassicaceae or leaves is high). The sulphur content and nitrogen per sulphur ratio jointly show the sufficient sulphur supply of plant. The limit value for canola leaf sulphur content is > 6.5 mg S kg –1 (Schnug and Haneklaus 1998), and the marginal nitrogen per sulphur ratio is around 10 (Saalbach 1972). Other plants have a lower sulphur requirement than canola, e.g. the N per S ratio of winter wheat was 11–16 in the vegetative parts, 17–18 in the grain and 5–9 in the stem at maturity (Lasztity 1991). The N per S ratio was 7–9 in grass hay (Ragalyi and Kadar 2006). The latter experiment showed an increase in nitrogen and sulphur contents of grass during N treatment and the N per S ratio rose from 7.33 (0 kg N ha) to 9.19 (300 kg N ha). The aim of the present work was to get further knowledge on the effect of N-fertilizer on the nitrogen, sulphur and carbon contents of winter canola, as indicators of quantitative and qualitative changes.

Testing the quality of winter wheat under traditional storage conditions and storing in inert gas

The primary goal during storage is to preserve the quality of wheat and prevent both qualitative and quantitative loss. In great wheat producing countries all around the world, many have analysed the change of qualitative features in wheat during storage, including moisture content, temperature and nutrition values (Posner and Hibbs, 1997; Kent, 1975). In Hungary, the relationships between moisture content (Ldsztity and TOrley, 1993), temperature and suitability for storage have been studied, given the appropriate parameters of storage. As regards storage, Barabs Pecznik, 1971; Mosoni, 1989; Farkas; 1977) ensures maintaining and protecting the harvesting quality of wheat. At the end of a one-year-long storage in Germany, the soluble protein content and the activity of catalyse enzyme has significantly decreased, however, unanimous moderation in sedimentation and bread volume has not been found. (Seibel and Weipert,1973). Lukow et al. (1995) studied 19 qualitative parameters. Alteration in protein content has not been found, at the same time, sedimentation has decreased as an effect of storage. In practice, one of the most important nutritional indexes of wheat is wet gluten content, being one of the essential quality parameters used at qualitative reception in Hungary. Its rate is monitored both during storage and processing. During storage, significant change in wet gluten content has not been found, in contrast, a beneficial change in the quality of gluten occurred during the end of maturating period, thanks to the forming and stabilizing of gluten shell (Balla et al., 1993). Gyori (1998) analysed the Hagbergs falling number founding no unanimous moderation. As regards falling number, extents of germination both before and during storage are important. Lukow et al. (1995) found the farinographic value stable during a 5-month-long storage period.

Multi-Elemental Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopic Calibration Problems of the Sequential Extraction Procedure for the Fractionation of the Heavy Metal Content from Aquatic Sediments

Abstract For the characterisation of the environmental mobility of heavy metal contamination in aquatic sediments, the EU Bureau of Reference has proposed a fractionation by sequential extraction procedure. For its validation, the CRM-701 sample is available containing Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. In this paper, the matrix-matched calibration problems are presented. A multi-elemental inductively coupled plasma-optical emission technique is employed for the detection of heavy metals in the extracts. It was established that the sensitivities are strongly influenced by the extractants, which causes significant matrix effects: the sensitivities are strongly influenced by the solvents applied in extraction steps; the summarised recoveries show an acceptable agreement with the certified values; however, in the individual extraction steps for certain elements significant differences may occur due to the neglected interferences. Therefore, further optimisation is required utilising the flexible line selection possibility offered by the HORIBA Jobin Yvon ACTIVA-M instrument.